Are these signs of early labor, PLEASE HELP !!?

Question

I am 1 centemeter dialated and 50 % effaced. I also have alot of cramps and braxton hicks. I am only 31 weeks along so it seems a little early for this. This is my fourth child and I have dialated early before but only a couple weeks. My Doc sent me to the hospital 2 nights ago but since my Fetal Fibronecton test came back negative, they sent me home. I am very concerned. Am I going to deliver early ??

Answer 1

Calm down. You probably will have a premature child, but thats probably not the case either. This is your fourth child right? It is normal for you to be 1 cm when you've given birth before. When a woman has more than one child she never completely closes.

Answer 2

The negative Fetal Fibronecton is VERY reassuring. That means you are unlikely to go into labor within the next 2 weeks. If you are still contracting a lot at that time, they may repeat it.
Many women have lots of braxton hicks, cramps, and uterine irritability, even if this is a different experience for you.
A urinary tract infection can cause these symptoms -- they probably checked you for this in the hospital. If you are not sure, ask.
The most likely thing --these symptoms are more common with a fourth baby. Your uterus may just be complaining a little. It's already had to stretch out 3 times before, and now it has to do it all over again, and it just doesn't have quite the muscle tone that it used to. The abdominal muscles that support it aren't doing quite as good a job either.
So drink plenty of water, and if it gets a lot WORSE, definitely call your doctor or midwife.
Otherwise, given your negative test, you can consider it to be uncomfortable but not harmful.
Good Luck!

Answer 3

you can never tell. I think you probably will but not sure how early! I was dilating from 29 weeks on and finally delivered at 35 weeks and I was dilated to a 4 for a week before I went into labor. The signs you need to look for are loss of mucus plug ( which can still take a week or so to make you go into labor), heavy bleeding, water breaking and contractions that will not go away no matter what you do and soon become VERY painful.

Answer 4

Not necessarily, but Im wondering the same thing about me and had the same test done while inthe hospita 2 weeks agol. Im 29 weeks now and have been having BH contractions since I was 18 weeks. This is also my 4th baby. My test came back negative too. I had my 3rd son at 34 weeks and he was perfectly fine and healthy and lungs were developed and everything. So if the test came back neg for you then at least you will probably be past that when your baby is born. Did they give you steroid shots for the babys lungs? Everything should be fine. Just be on bedrest and take it easy. Good Luck to you.

Answer 5

I would say because of the cramps to stay near a hospital. I had braxton hicks like crazy (I thought) but they turned out to be real and I delivered early. Call your doc again every day if you have to if you are very worried.

Answer 6

you can be dialated for 2 months before you go into labor.
I have a friend who has been dialated since Thanksgiving night--she is due in a few weeks.

remember every pregnancy, woman & baby are different.

Answer 7

drinking enough water. Even slight dehydration can cause symptoms of early labor. Make sure your drinking enough. 8 glasses of water per day. Cut out all the bad stuff including pop, and coffee. Good luck.

Answer 8

wow, i went to the hospital, and they said i was fine, but i have been told, you can be a centemeter dialated for a month

Answer 9

Go to the hospital

Answer 10

go to the hospital. good luck